Process for separating inorganic cations from solution with hydrous oxide cation exchangers



United States Patent PROCESS FOR SEPARATING INORGANIC CAT- IONS FROM SOLUTION WITH HYDROUS OX- IDE CATEON EXCHANGERS Kurt A. Kraus, 110 Ogontz Lane, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830 No Drawing. Application Sept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,291, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 631,065, Dec. 28, 1956. Divided and this application Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,850

25 Claims. (CI. 2350) This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 141,291, filed Sept. 28, 1961, which in turn is a continuation of Ser. No. 631,065, filed Dec. 28, 1956, both now abandoned.

This invention relates to ion exchange, particularly the concentration, isolation, recovery and/or separation of inorganic ions with certain hydrous oxide ion exchangers.

Adsorption and ion exchange processes have been used widely for concentration, isolation and separation of various materials. Adsorbents or ion exchangers which have been used most extensively are silicates, such as clays, zeolites, glaucouites, etc., and organic resinous exchangers. However, the materials currently known as adsorbents or ion exchangers have many disadvantages and many of the processes in which they may be employed are too tedious or cumbersome to be of proper commercial value. Most of the present ion exchange materials have too low selectivity for many purposes, which entails the use of long columns of ion exchanger to obtain significant separation.

The present siliceous ion exchangers have very poor stability in both acidic and basic solutions and, consequently, their use in making ionic separations is severely limited to substantially neutral solutions.

The organic resinous exchangers have good stability in contact with strong acids, and some also with strong bases, but they generally have low stability to oxidizing solutions, strong nuclear radiation fields and high temperatures and poor selectivity for ions of the same charge type.

Other inorganic adsorbents which have been proposed or used include aluminum oxide, bon char and calcium phosphate. Hydrous oxides, such as ferric oxide, tin oxide and zirconium oxide, have been shown to have some adsorptive properties. However, these materials have almost invariably been used either in preparations wherein the respective physical characteristics are such that they have relatively low ion capacity or where relatively low selectivity between ions of similar charge existed and, furthermore, they have generally been considered as unsuitable for subsequent ion recovery therefrom.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an eiiective method for the concentration, isolation, separation and recovery of inorganic ions from mixtures thereof using certain hydrous oxide ion exchangers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method which may be specifically adjusted to separate and recover groups of elements from aqueous solutions containing other groups of elements, to separate and recover individual elements from aqueous solutions containing two or more elements of a single group, and to concentrate and recover certain elements from aqueous solu- 3,382,034 Patented May 7, 1968 tions wherein they occur as contaminants or physiologically toxic materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process employing certain hydrous oxides which are acid and base stable, oxidation and reduction stable, stable in the presence of radiations from radioactive ions in the aqueous solutions used, and temperature stable over the range of temperatures required for separation and recovery of the respective ion species.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a process employing certain hydrous oxides capable of rapidly and selectively separating and recovering ions from aqueous solutions, particularly where groups of such ions are of the same charge type, thereby requiring the use of not only smaller amounts of ion exchangers but shorter columns of such ion exchangers than has hitherto been possible.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a process wherein a series of ion separations and recoveries can be made from a single aqueous solution by a sequence of hydrous oxide ion exchanger contacts without changing solutions between such contacts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide processes for preparation of improved ion exchangers, including methods of stabilizing otherwise unstable ion exchange materials, and the products obtained through such processes.

In addition, the process of the present invention provides a method for separation, recovery and purification in the processing of ore concentrates in the production of some of the more valuable metals, such as rubidium, cesium, radium, rare earths, thorium, molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, cobalt, copper and silver.

Other objects of the invention include the provision for the economical concentration, isolation, recovery and/or separation of inorganic ions both from the standpoint that the hydrous oxide ion exchangers are much less expensive than the organic resinous exchange materials which are most commonly used, and that their greater capacity for sharp and selective ion exchange results in less ion exchanger and less expensive apparatus being needed for any stated separation and recovery.

I have discovered an eilicient and economical method for separating inorganic material from an aqueous ion supply of such material by providing a hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing the hydrous oxide of at least one element with atomic number greater than 20 which is substantially insoluble in the aqueous solution ion supply exchanger with an aqueous solution of a reagent capable of supplying ions which will displace the ions enriched on the ion exchanger into this contacting solution, and by separating the denuded ion exchanger and the aqueous solution enriched with ions which have been separated and thereby finally recovered in the latter solution.

Certain words and phrases used in the description and claims have the meanings and interpretations which follow.

Ion exchangers are materials which contain a network or matrix to which are fixed either negative or positive charges. In order to preserve neutrality, these solids must contain either mobile or displaceable ions of opposite charge (counter ions). If the network contains a negative charge, the displaceable ions will be positively charged and the material is known as a cation exchanger. Conversely, for a positively charged network, the displaceable ions are negatively charged and the material is known as an anion exchanger.

Hydrous oxide ion exchangers are amorphous or microcrystalline solids containing one or more metal cations (normally not exchanged), oxide anions, hydroxide anions, varying amounts of water, and some other exchangeable ions (anions or cations, depending upon the charge of the specific ion or group of ions being separated and recovered). Although such materials may have been identified heretofore as a particular oxide" or salt, it is to be understood that any such oxides or salts as may be mentioned herein do not necessarily and, in fact, often do not have a simple and/or definite stoichiometrical composition and often do not have a definite crystal structure when examined with X-rays (as frequently implied when a material is identified as an oxide or a salt).

The hydrous oxide ion exchangers of the present invention may be essentially oxide or hydroxides of a single element or a mixture of oxides of two or more elements. In the latter case, the solid mixture may be of relatively uniform composition, such as may be obtained as the result of a specific co-precipitation, or may be definitely non-uniform, such as may be obtained as a result of adsorption of one oxidic material on another previously prepared oxide support. In any event, the hydrous oxide ion exchanger used for the separations described herein must be substantially insoluble in the aqueous solution ion supply with which it is being contacted, whether such aqueous solution be acidic, neutral or basic.

The charge on a hydrous oxide species depends largely upon the degree of acidity of the oxide and the media.

If the hydrous oxides are very basic, they may exist as cations at all pH values and thus they have only anion exchange properties; conversely, if they are highly acidic, they exist only as negatively charged species, and will be usable only as cation exchangers. Hydrous oxides of intermediate acidity characteristics exist and have either anion or cation exchange properties, depending upon the nature of the aqueous medium with which they are in contact. In general, for a given hydrous oxide, other conditions being the same, the more acidic solution will promote anion exchange behavior and the more basic solution will promote cation exchange behavior. Under certain conditions, both anions and cations, e.g., neutral salts, are adsorbed. It must be emphasized that the solution acidity at which this occurs is dependent not only upon the hydrous oxide in question but the other ions present in the system.

The hydrous oxides of many elements, which theoretically would be useful ion exchangers, are dispersible, that is, they are suificiently soluble or otherwise unstable in the aqueous solutions with which they must come in contact to reduce their effectiveness or to preclude their use entirely. This difiieulty has been overcome by the stabilization of such unstable hydrous oxides. This stabilization has been obtained in at least two ways.

In one method of stabilization, the unstable hydrous oxide has been adsorbed on a stable hydrous oxide at a pH sufiiciently low to cause such adsorption. The stable hydrous oxide then behaves as an anion exchanger for the unstable hydrous oxide. The resulting solid, insoluble ion exchanger thereby attains an excess of fixed negative charges and becomes a cation exchanger.

In another method of stabilization, substantially the same result has been obtained by co-precipitation of the normally stable hydrous oxide and the normally unstable or soluble hydrous oxide from solutions of salts of the respective elements. However, it must be understood that even though the resulting product may be considered loosely as being a precipitated metal salt, actually under these circumstances the exchange materials, as produced thereby, must be considered as mixtures of hydrous oxides, since generally the respective oxides may be present in the hydrous oxide ion exchanger in other than stoichiometrical proportions.

While this second method for stabilization ordinarily involves precipitation from salt solutions where one of the elements for the product is a cation in the salt solution from which it is derived and another element is the anion of the salt solution from which it is derived, the same general procedure has been used to make other mixed hydrous oxide ion exchanger where both, or all, the elements were cations in the salt solutions from which they were derived.

The methods for preparation of hydrous oxide ion exchangers typical of those used in the present invention are presented in the examples below.

Example 1 Hydrous titanium oxide ion exchanger.-( a) The preparation of hydrous titanium oxide from soluble titanium salts is more complicated than that for many other hydrous oxides because of the fact that the simple salts of Ti(IV) are not soluble even in concentrated mineral acids. One method of preparation consisted in adding an excess of about 1 M ammonium hydroxide to a olution of TiCl The resulting precipitate oxidized rapidly in air to a hydrous oxide of Ti(IV), which was then washed with water, dried, ground and sized.

(b) It is generally not necessary to prepare such a hydrous oxide from originally soluble components. Thus, commercial titanium nitrate, which is normally not soluble in water or dilute acids presumably because it is already an insoluble basic salt, Was treated with an excess of ammonium, the solid hydrous oxide filtered out, dried, ground and sized for column size.

Example 2 Hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing oxides of titanium and phosphorus-A TiCl solution wa oxidized to Ti(IV) with an excess of H 0 and H PO solution added thereto. Since no precipitate formed on the addition of the H PO the pH of the solution was increased by adding Na PO until no further precipitate formed. The final pH of the solution was 6.1. The resultant precipitate was filtered out, washed, dried and sized. Subsequently, this material showed a high capacity for Cs+ ions.

Example 3 Hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchanger.An excess of 2 M NH Ol i was added with stirring to a 1 M solution of zirconium oxychloride. The resultant precipitate was filtered out, washed, dried, ground and screened for column use.

Example 4 Hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing oxides of zirconium and phosphorus-(a) About 1 M H PO was added in excess to a l M solution of zirconium oxychloride and the resultant gelatinous precpitate was filtered out, washed, dried, ground and sized.

(b) A good handling ion exchanger with excellent properties has also been prepared by adding an excess of 1 M H3PO4 to an aqueous solution of 1 M zirconium oxychloride and 0.5 M KCl. The precipitate was filtered out, washed, dried, ground and sized.

Example 5 Hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing oxides of zirconium and tungsten-(a) Approximately 0.5 M solutions of Zirconium oxychloride and sodium tungstate were adjusted to pH ca. 1 by addition of HCl to the tungstate and, if necessary, NH OH to the zirconium solution. These solutions were mixed so that the mole ratio of tungsten to zirconium in solution was about 4, thereby producing a precipitate wherein the corresponding ratio is about 3. The precipitate was filtered off and dried (without washing) at room temperature in air. This hydrous oxide ion exchanger is now partly in the hydrogen form and partly in the sodium form and can be converted into other forms by treatment with proper reagents, e.g., to substantially the ammonium form by treatment with 0.5 to 1 M NH Cl solution, or to the hydrogen form by treatment with 0.5 M HCl or I-INO It is to be noted that this particular ion exchanger was dried at essentially room temperature. With drying above 80 C. adsorptive capacity was greatly impaired and with drying above 150 C. adsorptive capacity essentially disappeared. However, heat treatment above 600 C. causes reappearance of some cation adsorption capacity, although considerably less than for the material dried at room temperature.

(b) In an alternate method for preparation, a relatively concentrated solution of sodium tungstatc was passed through a column of hydrous zirconium oxide anion ion exchanger. The ion exchanger, after treatment with an excess of sodium tungstate, was a cation exchanger.

Example 6 Hydrous thorium oxide ion exchanger.-An excess of about 2 M NH OH was added to about 1 M ThCh. The resultant gelatinous precipitate was filtered off, washed, dried, ground and sized.

Example 7 Hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing oxides of thorium and phosphorus.(a) ThCl was dissolved in water, about 6 M H PO was added thereto, and then Na PO was added until pI-I ca. 4 was reached. The precipitate formed at this point was filtered off, washed and dried. This material showed essentially no cation adsorption properties; however, it did take up chromate ions, showing it was essentially an anion exchanger.

(b) To the filtrate obtained during the separation of the exchanger in 7(a) above, additional Na PO was added until no more precipitate was formed. This precipitate was filtered off, washed and dried. The resultant ion exchanger did not take up chromate ions, but did adsorb considerable quantities of Cs+ ion. This shows that by controlling the conditions of precipitation it is possible to obtain an ion exchanger which may be either a cation or anion exchanger:

Example 8 Hydrous tin oxide ion exchanger.An excess or" 1 M NH OH was added with stirring to a l M solution of SnCL; and the resultant precipitate was filtered, washed with water, ground and sized.

Example 9 Hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing oxides of bismuth and tin.While bismuth oxides and basic salts of: Bi(III) adsorb various negative ions, they are not satisfactory ion exchangers since they tend to disperse into fine particles and tend to undergo phase changes which make column operation diflicult. Many mixed oxides con taining Bi(III) substantially retain the unusual ion exchange and adsorptive properties of Bi(III) oxides, but

do not show the unattractive physical properties indicated above. Typical of various methods for preparing mixed oxides of this type is the preparation of a mixed Bi(III)- Sn(IV) hydrous oxide ion exchanger.

A suspension of freshly precipitated hydrous bismuth oxynitrate was treated in equimolar proportions with a solution of sodium stannate and acid was added to insure complete co-precipitation. The resultant precipitate was filtered off, washed, dried, ground and sized.

Similar preparations were made with different mole ratios of bismuth to tin.

Example 10 Drying of hydrous oxides-The drying temperature, though of importance in determining the ion exchange capacities of ion exchangers, may or may not always be critical. However, most hydrous oxide ion exchangers usually exhibit higher ion exchange capacities when dried at relatively low temperatures rather than at temperatures which are sufficiently high to impair or destroy their hydrous character.

Table 1 summarizes the apparent capacities for chromate ion adsorption by hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchangers (Example 3) with various water contents resulting from drying for 16-24 hours at various temperatures. The chromate ion uptake was measured by passing 0.02 M Cr(VI) solutions in 0.1 M HCl through small columns (ca. 1 cc.) of the hydrous zirconium ion exchangers and determining the shape of the breakthrough curves.

TABLE 1.-EFFECT OF DRYING TEMPERATURE ON CHROMA'IE ION ABSORPTION Drying Temp, 0. Water content, Moles Cr Moles Cr wt. percent (VI) /k g. (VI) [liter l Assumed value.

The preparation of other single or mixed hydrous oxide ion exchangers may be carried out readily by the methods presented above for the preparation of zirconium oxide, thorium oxide and tin oxide exchangers.

The preparation of mixed hydrous oxide ion exchangers, where the respective oxides are derived from both the cation and anion in solution such as in the case of vanadates, niobates, tantalates, molybdates, tungstates, phosphates and arsenates, may be carried out by the methods shown above, either by co-precipitation .or adsorption on a hydrous anion exchanger.

Most of the hydrous oxide ion exchangers have been made using reagent grade chemicals in order to develop the characteristics of the ion exchangers with a minimum of ambiguity. It is now apparent that the presence of impurities normally found in commercial reagents does not have any serious deleterious etfeets as far as the preparation of most ion exchangers of this character is concerned.

Although gelatinous precipitates have been used generally, the form may be varied to yield ion exchangers with somewhat more attractive physical properties, such as gel beads. The precipitates may be formed on suitable insoluble supports and, as shown above, on some of the hydrous oxides themselves. Likewise, subsequent treatment of one hydrous ion exchanger may be used to change the ion exchanger type, e.g., addition of an excess of phosphoric acid to a hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchanger yields a cation exchanger similar to that obtained for the zirconium-phosphorus oxide exchanger prepared by conventional precipitation methods.

Some of the typical compounds tested for ion exchange properties are shown in Table 2.

Table 2.Typical hydrous oxide ion exchangers tested (1) Simple oxides:

(a) Principally cation exchangers: Mo(VI), W(VI) (b) Principally anion exhanger: Bi(III) (c) Anion exchangers at high acidity; cation exchangers at low acidity or in basic solutions: Ti(lV), Zr(IV), Th(IV), Sn(IV), Nb(V), Ta(V), Cr(III), Fe(III), A1(III).

(2) Mixed oxides:

(a) Principally anion exchangers: Bi(III)-A1(III), Bi(III)-Zr(IV), Bi(III)-Th(IV), Bi(lI)-Sn(IV) all with sutficient bismuth (b) Anion exchangers at high acidity; cation exchangers at low acidity and in basic solutions: Fe(III)-Cr(IlI), Zr(IV)-Sn(lV).

(3) Mixed oxides--with one acidic oxide:

All of these ion exchangers are cation exchangers when prepared in the presence of an excess of acidic oxide; however, they are anion exchangers (of type 1c above) when prepared in the presence of excess of the basic oxide i(1V) P(V), V) W) V) W),

Bi(III)-P(V) Zr(lV)-Cr(VI), Bi(lII)-Cr(VI) A general description of the application of hydrous oxide ion exchangers to the field of ion separation, where separations imply concentration, isolation, purification and/ or recovery, is given below for cation exchange, anion exchange and deionization (the combination of anion exchange and cation exchange).

(1) CATION EXCHANGE For cation exchange in acidic solutions, a hydrous oxide ion exchanger containing at least one acidic component is desirable, such as insoluble hydrous oxides containing an oxide of tungsten, molybdenum, phosphorus and/or arsenic. Many of these latter hydrous oxides tend to lose their acid components in neutral or basic solutions [see also below under (2) Anion Exchange] and their use is thus restricted. Some loss of oxides of tungsten, molybdenum, etc., may also occur in extremely acid solutions, which implies some caution in their use under these condit-ions. It is often possible to avoid contamination by these acidic components of solutions under treatment by the addition of a section of a more basic hydrous oxide at the efiiuent side of the columns on which the acidic oxide readsorbs.

There appears to be a general trend in the relative selectivity of the hydrous oxides for various cations which depends on the acidity of the solutions and the concomitant degree of acid conversion of the hydrous oxide. The oxides containing acidic components were found to show a trend to higher selectivities between elements of a given charge type with higher acidity. They tend to lose this selectivity in the less acidic solutions where the oxides may exist principally in salt forms. This property affords a powerful means for altering the properties of the hydrous oxides to meet specific requirements. Indeed, it is possible in some cases to invert the selectivity by proper selection of oxides and conditions to separate certain cations A and B by:

(a) Eluting A first, then B;

(b) Eluting A and B together, in separating them from other ions;

(c) Eluting B first, then A.

The relative acidity of the hydrous oxides varies from element to element and for cation exchange in the less acidic or basic solutions the less acidic oxides could be selected. In basic solutions, the number of elements which remain soluble as cations becomes severely restricted, essentially to the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals or to solutions of extremely low concentration of other elements.

A number of examples are given to illustrate the various features of cation exchange with hydrous oxide ion exchangers. While the separation and recovery of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions predominate in the examples, the separations and recoveries of various ions is not limited to these examples as they do not cover the whole breadth of the supporting experimental work. From such work it is apparent that hydrolyzable ions may be separated satisfactorily, that difficult separations, such as those for the rare earths, are possible, and that many unique isolations may be achieved.

Example 11 Separation of alkali metals with hydrous Zr(IV)-W(Vl) oxide ion exchanger.-This ion exchanger (Example 5) was dried at 25 C. without washing, ground and screened to ca. mesh, and prepared in a column 12.3 cm. high with 0.13 cm. across sectional area. A 0.01 M NH Cl solution containing Li+, Na- K' Rb+ and Cs+ was passed through the column and the alkali metals adsorbed. Elution in the order Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs was achieved by treating the column of enriched ion exchanger with NH Cl solutions of successively increasing concentration (0.05 M, 0.1 M, 0.3 M, 0.75 M and 4.5 M NH Cl). Each element came off in a sharp band with essentially symmetrically (Gaussian) shaped elution band. Half widths of the bands were less than 2 column volumes and essentially complete elution of each element was achieved with less than 6 column volumes of each reagent.

Example 12 Separation of alkali metals and hydrous Zr(IV)-Mo(V I) oxide ion exchanger.The alkali metal ions Na K Rb+ and Cs+ were adsorbed from 0.01 M NH Cl solution onto a column of the ion exchanger 6 cm. high and 0.2 cm? across section. The ions were removed from the ion exchanger by successively raising the concentration of NH Cl eluent to 0.1 M for Na, to 0.5 M for K, to 1 M for Rb and to saturated NH Cl for Cs. All the alkali metal ions came off in bands of approximately Gaussian shape and of narrow half width (approximately 2 column volumes). Each elution band commenced within 2 column volumes after the eluent concentration was raised to the value specified above for it.

Example 13 Separation of alkali metals with hydrous Zr(IV)-P(V) oxide ion exchanger.The alkali metal ions, Na+ through Cs+, were adsorbed from about 0.01 M NH Cl onto a column of the ion exchanger (previously dried at 25 C. and converted partially to the NH,+ form) 12.5 cm. high and 0.2 cm. across section. The adsorbed ions were successively removed (flow rate ca. 0.7 cm./minute) by successively raising the concentration of NH CI eluent to 0.5 M for Na, 1.0 M for K, to 2.0 M for Rb and to saturated NH Cl for Cs. All the alkali metal ions came off in reasonably sharp bands, except the Cs+ which showed some tailing.

Example 14 Separation of alkaline earth metals with hydrous Zr(IV)-Mo(VI) oxide ion exchanger.-The alkaline earth metal ions Ca, Sr, Ba and Ra were adsorbed from a solution 0.1 M in NH Cl and 0.005 M in HCl onto a column of ion exchanger (previously dried at room temperature and partially in the NHJ form) 10 cm. high and 0.2 cm. cross section. The eluent concentration of 0.2 M NH CI- 0.005 M HCl was used to remove Ca which came off between 2 and 8 column volumes; the concentration raised to 0.5 M NH Cl0.005 M HCl and Sr removed in between 1 to 4 column volumes; raised to 1.0 M NH Cl-0.005 M HCl with the removal of Ba beginning after passage of 9 a 3 column volumes and being complete in about more column volumes; and finally the concentration was raised to saturated NH Cl-.0l M HCl and the Ra removed in about 4 column volumes. The flow rate was about 1.1 cm./minute.

In other experiments, the alkaline earth metal ions Mg to Ba were adsorbed from 0.1 M NH C1-0.005 M HCl. Elution of the Mg was achieved in less than 4 volumes with 0.2 M NI-I Cl0.005 M HCl and Ca eluted as a band between 5 and 8 column volumes. Sr and Ba were eluted as described above.

Example Separation of Cs+ and Na+ with hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchanger.-A mixture of Na+ and Cs+ tracers in neutral solution was passed through a 0.2 cm. x 3.6 cm. column of ion exchanger which had been pretreated with 1 M KOH. On elution with 0.1 M KOH the Cs+ elution peak came at ca. 1.3 column volumes. The Cs was well separated from the Na+ band which had its elution peak at 4.4 column volumes.

It is pointed out that here the Cs+ was eluted first and before the Na which is the reverse of the order of separation obtained in Examples 11, 12 and 13 above.

Example 16 Concentration and isolation of individual alkali metal ions with hydrous Zr(IV)-P(V) oxide ion exchanger.- The ratios of adsorbabilities of successive alkali metals may be made so great by proper choice of ion exchanger and operating conditions that isolation of individual members of this group from relatively concentrated electrolyte solutions becomes possible.

(a) This is particularly easy for Cs where, among others, concentration and isolation from concentrated (13 M) LiCl containing 0.1 M HCl was carried out, and isolation from 1.9 M Al(NO was secured, using an acid washed hydrous Zr-P oxide ion exchanger.

Even concentration and isolation of metal ions occurring in low concentration is possible from an adjacent member (in high concentration) in the same column of the periodic table, e.g. K from Na, or Na from Li.

(b) A 0.001 M KCl solution in 0.1 M NaCl was passed through an acid washed hydrous Zr-P oxide ion exchanger column, 3.9 cm. x 0.28 cm. A 50% breakthrough for K occurred after ca. 15 column volumes. Similar results were obtained with a LiCl solution containing Na tracer.

Example 17 Separation of alkali and alkaline earth metal groups using hydrous Zr(IV)-P(V) oxide ion exchanger.-The metal ions in an aqueous solution containing 0.01 millimole of Na, K, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba were adsorbed on a 2 cm. x 0.2 cm. column of the ion exchanger, which had been previously dried at 25 C. and pretreated with sufiicient ammonia to remove the hydrogen ions in the ion exchanger. The total loading of the column with alkali and alkaline earth metals was 0.28 equivalent per liter of adsorbent bed. The Na, K and Cs ions were removed from the enriched exchanger by elution with 1 M NH Cl, and the Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba retained thereon were subsequently removed by elution with 1 M HCl.

Example 18 Separation of Cs('I) and Ba(II) with hydrous Zr(IV)- P(V) oxide ion exchanger.-A mixture of Cs and Ba ions in about 0.0 1 M HCl was adsorbed onto a 3.1 x 0.2 cm. column of ion exchanger, which had been previously dried 'at 25 C., pretreated with sufficient 1 M HCl to convert the column to the H+ form, after which it was washed with a few volumes of Water to remove interstitial HCl. Elution with 1 M HCl removed the Ba While the Cs remained adsorbed. Thereafter the Cs was removed with saturated N'H Cl solution. This separation was carried out at flow rates of several cm./minute with both elution bands sharp and essentially Gaussian in shape.

Attention is directed here to the fact that in this separation Ba was removed first, then the Cs. Had the separation been made from a salt solution and the ion exchanger been in salt form (Example 17), the order of elution would have been reversed. Comparison of these two examples thus illustrates the importance of control of acidity and of the composition of the ion exchanger in controlling the type .of separation to be achieved.

Example 19 Separation of Cs(I) and Ba(II) with hydrous Sn(IV) oxide ion exchanger.The ions in an aqueous solution containing Cs and Ba in 0.01 M HCl were adsorbed on the ion exchanger (dried at 25 C.) in a 1.7 cm. x 0.125 cm. column, which had been pretreated with 0.5 M NH;; 0.5 M NH NO Although these cations are not usually adsorbed by this adsorbent from acidic solutions, they were adsorbed in this case because there was enough acidneutralizing-capacity in the washed ion exchanger to neutralize the excess acidity of the added aliquot. Cs was removed in a sharp band by elution with 0.5 M NH 0.5 M NH NO and thereafter the Ba was removed with some tailing with 1 M I-INO Example 20 Separation of CHG), Ba(II) and Eu(III) with hydrous Zr(IV) oxide ion exchanger.The ions in a slightly acid aqueous solution containing Cs, Ba and En were adsorbed on the ion exchanger (dried at 500 C.) in a 2.0 cm. x 0.2 cm. column which had been pretreated with 1 M NaOH and water washed. Elution of the enriched ion exchanger with 0.1 M NH -0.1 M NH NO solution removed the Cs; thereafter elution with 10* M NH NO removed the Ba; and finally the Eu was removed with 2 M HNO All elution bands were sharp and essentially Gaussian.

In carrying out the above separation, Eu was selected as a typical rare earth, principally because a radioactive tracer was readily available. Other rare earths could, of course, have been used as well.

Example 21= Separation of Co(II) and Fe(III) with hydrous Zr(IV)-W(VI) oxide ion exchanger.--A dilute nitric acid solution containing Co and Fe was passed through the ion exchanger (dried at room temperature) in a 5 cm. x 0.1 cm. column. On elution of the enriched ion exchanger With 0.1 M HNO 0.5 M KNO Co began to come through at about 2 column volumes and was essentially completely eluted after the passage of 6-7 column volumes. Thereafter, on elution with 0.1 M HCl- 8 M LiCl, the Fe began to come off after passage of about 6 column volumes and was essentially completely eluted by the time 12 more column volumes had passed through. The flow rate was 0.5 cm./minute.

Example 22 Separation of copper from ammonia solution with hydrous Zr(IV) oxide ion exchanger.--A 0.01 M solution of copper chloride in 1 M NH was passed into a small column of exchanger (dried at C.). The copper adsorbed as a dark blue band with a sharp frontal edge. The color of the adsorbed Cu indicated that an ammonia complex was adsorbed. After passage of 10 cc. of the solution into the column, only 0.25 cc. of the column was loaded, i.e., the average concentration in the ion exchanger was approximately 0.4 mole/Cu/liter of adsorbent bed. Elution of most of the adsorbed Cu was achieved by elution with 1 M NH Cl; in other experiments elution was carried out with 0.5 M HCl.

(2) ANION EXCHANGE All except the most acidic hydrous oxides appear to be anion exchangers in acidic solutions. The anion exchange capacity in general tends to decrease with increasing pH and is also dependent on the type of anion which is being adsorbed. To some extent it is also determined by the cations present in solution since, parallel with the adsorption of anions, cation adsorption may also take place. Indeed, such adsorption of anions on hydrous oxides, which leads to cation adsorption, is one of the methods by which cation exchangers, as discussed above, can be made.

The selectivity of the hydrous oxide anion-exchangers is remarkably great when compared with typical organic exchangers, particularly for certain polyvalent anions. The selectivity of these exchangers seems related, in many cases, to the complexing properties of the metal on which it is based. Many of these exchangers show remarkable selectivity for floride ion in concordance with the strong complexing tendencies of the metals from which they are formed. The hydrous oxides based on metals on the left side of the periodic table (e.g., Group IV-A, the titanium group) have little selectivity for other halide ions, while those based on metals with strong complexing properties, such as Bi(III), have remarkable chloride selectivity. Similar selectivity for many other anions, such as sulfide, cyanide, selenide, etc, may be obtained by proper selection of the hydrous oxide element components.

While adsorption or admixture of an acidic oxide may destroy the anion exchange properties of a given hydrous oxide and convert it into a cation exchanger, this becomes serious only when such admixtures are very large (addition of a considerable excess). If the addition is moderate, considerable benefits may be obtained in making the hydrous oxide less dispersible than it would be otherwise. In some cases the admixture of acidic oxides may be as large as mole for mole without destroying the anion exchange properties.

Example 231 Separation of Cr(VI) with hydrous Zr(IV) oxide ion exchanger.A large number of experiments were made on the adsorption of Cr(VI) from various electrolyte solutions (acid, neutral salt and ordinary river water). The hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchanger (dried at 200 C.) was placed in small columns (approximately 1 cc. in volume and ca. 2 cm. high), and the Cr(VI) adsorbed thereon, and thereafter eluted with 1 M NH or 1 M NaOH to remove Cr(VI). The efiluent in the regeneration step contained more than 90% of the Cr(VI) in the form of neutral salts [NH CrO or Na CrO with practically no contamination by base.

A small amount of Cr(VI) is often retained by the ion exchanger after regeneration with 1 M NaOH, as revealed by the slight yellow cast of the regenerated column. Much of this residual Cr(VI) can be removed by prolonged treatment with strong base; however, this is rarely necessary since this small amount of Cr(VI) does not affect significantly the performance of the columns in subsequent cycles.

(a) From 0.02 M Cr(VI) in 1 M H-NO 0.1 M HNO 1 M HCl or 0. 1 M HCl, the chromate uptake was between 0.5 and 0.9 mole/liter of adsorbent bed at the 50% breakthrough point. In most of these experiments the ion exchanger was pretreated with the corresponding acid (salt form exchanger) but essentially identical results were obtained with ion exchanger pretreated with base (hydroxide form exchanger) provided the excess acidity of the solution was large.

Adsorption of Or-(VI) from 1 M or 0.1 H 80 was considerably lower (0.01 and 0.035 mole/liter of ion exchanger bed, respectively) reflecting the high selectivity of the ion exchanger for sulfate and particularly bisulfate ions.

Cr(VI) has been adsorbed from electrolyte solutions containing only 2 moles of hydrogen ions per mole of chromate; i.e., from chromic acid solutions; with the adsorbent initially in substantially the hydroxide form. In this case, sufficient acid was present to neutralize the hydroxide ions released by the exchange, provided no excess base had been adsorbed by the ion exchanger during pretreatment or regeneration. Since the hydrous oxide ion exchangers tend to adsorb more NaOH than NH when treated with these bases, successful adsorption on a NaOH regenerated ion exchanger requires the presence of some excess acid in the chormate solution while essentially no excess acid is required after regeneration (b) From 0.02 M Cr(VI) in 1 M NaNO 0.1 M NaNO 1 M NaCl or 0.1 M NaCl, the Cr(VI) uptake was about 0.4 mole/liter of ion exchanger bed at 50% breakthrough. The ion exchanger had been pretreated with I-INO and HCl respectively, for the nitrate and chloride adsorptions. If the ion exchanger had not been changed to the salt form by previous acid treatment, adsorption of Cr(VI) from the neutral salt solutions would have been very poor; i.e., the hydroxide form of exchanger should not be used for adsorption of Cr(VI) from neutral salt solutions.

The success of adsorption of Cr(VI) from sulfate solutions depends largely on the pretreatment of the ion exchanger. While a considerable amount of adsorption of Cr(VI) occurs when the ion exchanger is pretreated with H a double S shape of the breakthrough curve prevents full utilization of the capacity of the ion exchanger. This difiiculty may be avoided by pretreatment of the ion exchanger with HCl or HNO instead of H 80 or by treating it with HNO and converting the resultant nitrate form to the sulfate form by treatment with a sulfate solution.

(c) A typical example is given for recovery of Cr(VI) from river water illustrating not only the recovery of valuable metals but also stream pollution control. The water used contained approximately 200 p.p.m. Cr(VI), 520 p.p.m. 50 140 p.p.m. Ca++, 9O p.p.m. Cl and 70 p.p.m. PO About 100 mesh hydrous Zr(IV) oxide (dried at 200 C.) was used in a column (1 cm. x 0.2 cm?) in the nitrate form, as a result of pretreatment with 1 M HNO with a water fiow rate of 3 cm./minute. Approximately 300 column volumes were passed through the ion exchanger before the efiiuent contained Cr(VI) at one-half the entering concentration (50% breakthrough). The column was then washed with small portions of 1 M HNO and water to remove accumulated elatinous hydroxides and adsorbed cations. Cr(VI) was removed with 1 M NaOH. The column was again treated with acid and the process repeated. In the second cycle, 265 column volumes were passed through to the 50% breakthrough point; this decreased to 260 column volumes in the third and fourth cycles, and further decreased to 250 column volumes in the fifth, sixth and seventh cycles. In all cycles elution of Cr(VI) with 1 M NaOH was ca. 96% completed in the first ca. 5 column volumes.

Example 24 Separation and recovery of elements in anionic form with hydrous Zr(IV) oxide ion exchanger.Since the hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchangers are particularly selective for polyvalent anions, they may be used for the separation and recovery of elements which may normally occur as soluble acids or soluble anions, e.g., antimonates, arsenates, borates, molybdates, selenates, tellurates, tungstates, vanadates, etc. Separation and recovery of certain members of this class has been performed using hydrous zirconium oxide ion exchanger (dried at 200 C.) in columns (approximately 1 cm. x 0.2 cm. Elution of the elements from the column of ion exchanger was carried out with 1 M NaOH and the efficiency of removal in all cases was in excess of within the first few column volumes.

The results of a number of typical separations are summarized in Table 3, wherein is listed, the type of acid or ion used, its concentration and the medium from which the adsorption was made, the reagent used for the pretreatment of the ion exchanger and the uptake of element being separated in moles per liter of ion exchanger bed when 50% breakthrough occurred.

TABLE 3.-ADSORPTION OF SOME POLYVALENT METAL HYDROUS ZIRCONIUM OXIDE ION EX- Acid or Concentra- Medium Uptake 1 Pretreat- Ion tion, M ment HaBOa.-." 0. 02 0.1 M NaNOa 0. 64 NH;

I'I8B03.. 0.02 0.1 M NaNOs 0. 22 HNOz Mo v1 0.1 0.2 M NaNOs, pH 1. 43 I-INO;

Mo v1)... 0.1 0. M NaNOz, pH 0. 41 1511103 Mo W 0.1 0.4 1 4 Nmsol, pH 0. s1 HESO4 w vow- 0.1 0.2 M NaNOg, pH 1. 30 HNO3 w (W). 0.1 :111 NaNOa, pH 0. 47 HNO3 w (v11... 0.1 0.2 ivi Nfizsoi, pH 0.08 H1804 As v 0.1 NaN0a, pH 1. 00 HNOs As v 0. 03s 0.4 3 M NENOa, pH 0. 99 HNOe,

As (v) 0.1 0.4 '1 viNaso1, pH 1.13 I'IQSOi As (III) 0.1 0.4 1 NBNOz, pH 1.58 11x03 1 Moles per liter of ion exchanger bed at 50% breakthrough.

Example 25 Hydrous oxide ion exchangers and aqueous medium for anion separation.As pointed out above, the adsorbability of a given anion from an aqueous solution of a given pH or for a given medium varies from one hydrous oxide ion exchanger to another. At low acidity or in basic solutions the adsorbability appears to be related to what is commonly known as the acidity or basicity of the oxide. The adsorbability of the anions is, of course, also determined by the selectivity of the ion exchanger for other anions present or used for elution. In Examples 23 and 24, only NH;.; and NaOH were discussed as eluents for the recovery of adsorbed anions but, of course, other strong bases act similarly to NaOH.

Table 4 shows a summary of a considerable number of experiments involving the separation of Group VI anions, Cr, Mo, and W, with Group IV hydrous oxide ion exchangers, Ti, Zr, Th and Sn. The medium from which the respective anions are adsorbed is shown, together with the distribution coefiicients using trace amounts of chromate, molybdate and tungstate These distribution coefficients are the ratio of the concentration of the element in the ion exchanger phase to its concentration in the aqueous phase. This distribution coelficient is closely related to the number of column volumes which can be processed before 50% breakthrough occurs under conditions where loading of the ion exchanger with respect to these ions is small. They are also closely related to the number of column volumes necessary to elute a thin adsorption band.

TABLE 4.ADSORP'IION OF SOME METAL ANIONS ON GROUP IV HYDROUS OXIDE ION EXCHANGERS Distribution Coefficients for- Hydrous Medium Oxide Cr (VI) Mo (V I) W (VI) 1 M NazCOa 1. 0 0. 1 M NaHOO; 0. 5 0.5 1,000 1 M NH31 M NH4C1. 3 2 2, 000 1 M HOAe-l M NaOAc. 40 3, 000 200 l M NaOAc 1O 70 2, 000 1MNt1|C0a- 1.5 5 1M NaHCO; 1.4 4 200 1 M NHz-l M NILCI- 60 100 1, 000 1 M HOAe-l M Na0Ac 8, 000 3, 000 100 1 M 700 1,000 1,500 1 M 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 1M H003 0.5 05 2 1 M NH3-1 M NH C1 2,000 1,000 3 000 1 M NaOAc 1,000 1,000 5, 000 1MNazCO3. 1.0 0.5 1.0 1 M NaHCO; 0. 5 0. 5 200 l M NHa-I M NHiCL 0. 5 0. 5 50 1 M HOAe-l M NaOAe. 3,000 200 1 M NaOAc 1. .1 1 1,000

1 4 Example 26 Separation of Cr(VI) and phosphate with hydrous Ti(IV) oxide ion exchanger.The Cr(VI) and phosphate in an aqueous solution were adsorbed on the ion exchanger in a column (2.8 cm. x 13 cm?), which had been pretreated with base and water washed. The Cr(VI) was eluted immediately with 0.1 M NaOH and thereafter the phosphate was eluted with 1 M NaOH.

Example 27 Separation of Ag(I) and Au(III) in chloride solution with hydrous Zr(IV) oxide ion exchanger.-A mixture of A-u(III) and Ag(I) tracers in l M HCl (containing some chlorine) was contacted with the ion exchanger (dried ,at 200 C.) in a column (3.6 cm. x 0.28 cm. The adsorbed metals were selectively eluted with 2 M HCl (containing chlorine) at a flow rate of approximately 0.5 cm./minute. Au(III) had an elution peak at approx imately 1 column volume and the Ag(I) at approximately 4 column volumes.

This example illustrates the fact that these inorganic anion ion exchangers may be used for separation of negatively charged metal complexes.

(3) DEIONIZATION (COMBINATION OF ANION AND CATION EXCHANGE) Salt removal and deionization may be achieved with inorganic adsorbents in essentially the same way as is conventional with organic exchangers, i.e., by combined use of anion and cation ion exchangers. However, the hydrous oxide ion exchangers appear to have some additional properties which are not available in the organic ion exchangers. They can, under proper conditions, adsorb both anions and cations on the same oxide exchanger. Three classes of this behavior are distinguished:

(a) Anion exchange capacity of many hydrous oxide ion exchangers overlaps with cat-ion exchange capacity. In general, one greatly outweighs the other, but for a given pair of ions to be adsorbed, there is usually a pH at which both adsorb equally well, i.e., where salt pickup reaches a maximum.

(b) Some adsorbed anions may carry along (by adsorption) the associtaed cations.

(c) Adsorption of acids (H+ and anion) or bases (OI-I and cation) in a manner typical of weakly basic and weakly acid organic exchangers.

Regeneration of such hydrous oxide ion exchangers which adsorb both cations and anions may be achieved in various ways, a typical one being successive washing with acid (to remove cations) and then with base (to remove anions), being careful to end up with a condition where no excess base remains adsorbed.

When used in the claims, the term non-siliceous" is intended to exclude silicates but not to exclude silicates in admixture with the other claimed constituents of the ion exchanger in an amount so small that the ion exchange characteristics of the ion exchanger will not be signficantly affected. It is not intended by the use Of such term to exclude the use of the claimed ion exchanger for the separation of silicates from an aqueous solution containing them.

When used in the claims, the term acidic hydrous oxide is to be construed to embrace a hydrous oxide which tends to retain an attached negative charge, viz., to exhibit cation exchange properties, in the presence of the solutions and other hydrous oxides into which it is placed in contact; the term basic hydrous oxide is to be construed to embrace a hydrous oxide which tends to retain an attached positive charge, viz., to exhibit anion exchange properties, in the presence of the solutions and other hydrous oxides into which it is placed in contact.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger; said cation exchanger consisting essentially of the hydrous oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Th(IV), Nb(V), Ta(V), Mo(VI), W(VI) and Sn(IV); the pH of said solution being sufficiently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufiiciently to destroy its hydrous character insufiiciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a sufiicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last mentioned aqueous solution.

2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said cation exchanger consists essentially of only one of the hydrous oxides recited in that claim.

3. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Sn(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufficiently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufiiciently to destroy its hydrous character and insufliciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

4. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Ti(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufiiciently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufficiently to destroy its hydrous character and insufiiciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded thation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

5. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Th(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufliciently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, beng dried insufiiciently to destroy its hydrous character and insufficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

6. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufiicient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Nb (V) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufficiently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufiiciently to destroy its hydrous character and insufficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sutficient quantity of said solution for a suflicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

7. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Ta(V) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufficiently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution; being dried insufiiciently to destroy its bydrous character and insutficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a suflicient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

8. A process for separating alkali metal cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger; said cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Zr(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufiiciently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufficiently to destroy its hydrous character and insufliciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a suflicient quantity of said solution for a suflicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said alkali metal cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said alkali metal cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said alkali metal cations from said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

9. A process for separating alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger; said cation exchanger having a sutficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Sn(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufiiciently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufliciently to destroy its hydrous character and insufficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a suflicient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said cations from said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

10. A process for separating alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger having a sufiicient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Zr(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufiiciently high to permit said cation exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insutficiently to destroy its hydrous character and insufficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a suilicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said cations from said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

11. A process for separating cations in the form of a copper-ammonia complex from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous hydrous oxide cation exchanger; said cation exchanger having a sufficient quantity of the hydrous oxide of Zr(IV) so that said cation exchanger will exhibit cation exchange characteristics; the pH of said solution being sufficiently high to permit said cat-ion exchanger to exhibit such cation exchange characteristics in the presence of said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufficiently to destroy its hydrous character and insufiiciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a suiii-cient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said copper-ammonia complex cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said copper-ammonia complex cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; con tacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said copper-ammonia complex cations from said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said lastunentioned aqueous solution.

12. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger containing the hydrous oxide of at least one element with atomic number greater than 20, other than a mixed hydrous oxide containing the oxides of Zr(IV) and P(V); said mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger containing an acidic hydrous oxide and a basic hydrous oxide; said acidic hydrous oxide being present in sufiicient excess to impart effective cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried insufficiently to destroy its hydrous character and insufficiently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufiicient quantity of said solution for a sufiicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said lastmentioned aqueous solution.

13. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger; said cation exchanger containing at least one acidic hydrous oxide component having an element selected from the group consisting of P'(V), V(V), Mo(VI), W(VI) and As(V), and at least one basic hydrous oxide component having an element selected from the group consisting of Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Th(IV), Nb(V), Ta(V), Sn(IV) and Bi('III), other than a mixed hydrous oxide containing the oxides of Zr(IV) and P(V); said cation exchanger containing a sufficient excess of said acidic hydrous oxide to impart effective cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, being dried iusufliciently to destroy its hydrous character and insufiiciently to destroy its cation exchange characteristics; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufiicient quantity of said solution for a sufiicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying cations to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

14. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said mixed hydrous oxide contains an acidic oxide of P(V) in combination with the oxide of Ti(IV), a sufficient excess of the oxide of P(V) being present to impart efifective cation exchange properties to said mixed hydrous oxide in said solution.

15. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said mixed hydrous oxide contains anacidic oxide of P(V) in combination with the oxide of BiUH), a sufiicient excess of the oxide of P(V) being present to impart effective cation exchange properties to said mixed hydrous oxide in said solution.

16. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said cations are alkaline earth metal cations and said cation exchanger is a hydrous Zr(lV)-Mo(Vl) oxide.

17. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said cations are alkali metal cations and said cation exchanger is a hydrous Zr(IV)-W (VI) oxide.

18. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said cations are alkali metal cations and said cation exchanger is a hydrous Zr(IV)-Mo (VI) oxide.

19. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said cation exchanger is a mixture of hydrous oxides of Zr(IV) and Mo(VI); a sufiicient excess of said oxide of Mo(VI) being present toimpart cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said aqueous solution.

20. A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said cation exchanger is a mixture of hydrous oxides of Zr(IV) and W(VI); a sufficient excess of said oxide of W(VI) being present to impart cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said aqueous solution.

21. A process for separating alkali metal cations from an aqueous solution in which they are associated with polyvalent cations which comprises treating .a hydrous oxide cation exchanger comprised of an oxide of a metal with atomic number greater than 20 and phosphorous, other than a mixed hydrous oxide containing the oxides of Zr(IV) and P(V), with a sufficient amount of ammonia to remove substantially all of the hydrogen ions in the cation exchanger, thereby converting it to the ammonium form of cation exchanger; contacting said aqueous solution with a sufficient amount of said ammonium form cation exchanger for a sufiicient time to selectively adsorb thereon substantially all of the polyvalent cations in said solution; and separating the enriched cation exchanger and the residual aqueous solution containing the alkali metal cations.

22. A process for separating inorganic cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations other than the processing of Pu(IV)-fission product solutions comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger containing an acidic hydrous oxide of P(V) in combination with a basic hydrous oxide of Zr(IV); a sufficient excess of the oxide of P(V) being present to impart elfective cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said solution; saidcation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, having been dried at a temperature not in excess of about 300 C.; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufiicient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said inorganic cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said inorganic cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said inorganic cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

23. A process for separating alkali metal cations from an aqueous solution in which they are associated with polyvalent cations which comprises treating a hydrous oxide cation exchanger comprised of an acidic hydrous oxide of P(V) in combination with a basic hydrous oxide of Zr(IV) with a sufiicient amount of ammonia to remove substantially all of the hydrogen ions in the cation exchanger, thereby converting it to the ammonium form of cation exchanger; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, having been dried at a temperature not in excess of about 300 C.; contacting said aqueous solution with a sufiicient amount of said ammonium form cation exchanger for a sufficient time to selectively adsorb thereon substantially all of the polyvalent cations in said solution; and separating the enriched cation exchanger and the residual aqueous solution containing the alkali metal cations.

24. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said cation exchanger consists essentially of the hydrous oxide of Zr(IV).

2,5. A process for separating alkaline earth metal and alkali metal cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations other than the processing of Pu(lV)-fission product solutions comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger containing an acidic hydrous oxide of P(V) in combination with a basic hydrous oxide of Zr(IV); a sufficient excess of the oxide of P(V) being present to impart elicctive cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, having been dried at a temperature not in excess of about 300 C.; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a suffic'ient quantity of said solution for a sufiicient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material capable of supplying ions to displace said cations on said cation exchanger; and separating the denuded cation exchanger and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

26. A process for separating alkali metal cations from an aqueous solution containing such cations other than the processing of Pu(IV)-fission product solutions comprising contacting said solution with a non-siliceous mixed hydrous oxide cation exchanger containing an acidic hydrous oxide of P(V) in combination with a basic hydrous oxide of Zr(IV); a sufiicient excess of the oxide of P(V) being present to impart effective cation exchange properties to said cation exchanger in said solution; said cation exchanger being substantially insoluble in said solution; said cation exchanger, prior to its being placed in contact with said solution, having bee-n dried at a temperature not in excess of about 300 C.; said cation exchanger being placed in contact with a sufficient quantity of said solution for a sufficient period of time to remove the desired quantity of said cations from said solution, whereby said cation exchanger will become enriched with said cations; separating the enriched cation exchanger from said aqueous solution; contacting said enriched cation exchanger with an aqueous solution containing a material 21 22 capable of supplying ions to displace said cations on said 3,180,741 4/1965 Wainer et al. 23-140 X cation exchanger; and separating the denueded cation ex- 3,193,346 7/1965 Klirnaszewski 23140 changer and said last-mentioned aqueous solution.

OTHER REFERENCES References Cited 5 Carlson et al.: US. Atomic Energy Commission Re- UNITED STATES PATENTS port, ORNL2159, October 11, 1956, pages 40-42. 2,298,464 10/1942 Burwell 23 140 A.P.C. abandoned application of Smit, Ser. No. 359,- 2,369,270 2/1945 Waddell 23-50 575'P11b-MaY11, 1943- 2671712 3/1954 Merre 23 5Q Thomas et 211.: Annual Review of Physical C hern1stry, 2 855 269 10 195 Boyd et 1 10 volume 7, edited by Eyring 8-1 211., Annual RCVICWS, 1110., 2 59 093 11 195g Russell et 1 23 5() P310 A110, Callfi, 1956, Pages 2,970,035 1/1961 Stoughton 2350 2,990,376 6/1961 Bressler $18.1 252-182 OSCAR VERTIZ Examme 2,993,000 7/ 1961 Kingsbury 252-182 H. T. CARTER, Assistant Examiner.

3,056,647 10/1962 Amphlett 23-139X 15 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,382,034 May 7, 1968 Kurt A. Kraus It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patentere hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 11, "Bi(II)-Sn(IV)" should read Bi(III)-Sn(IV) Column 14, line 4, "13 cm. should read O 13 Cm. 2

Signed and sealed this 16th day of December 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. SCHUYLER,

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING INORGANIC CATIONS FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING SUCH CATIONS COMPRISING CONTACTING SAID SOLUTION WITH A NON-SILICEOUS HYDROUS OXIDE CATION EXCHANGER; SAID CATION EXCHANGER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF THE HYDROUS OXIDE OF AT LEAST ONE ELEMENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TI(IV), ZR(IV), TH(IV), NB(V), TA(V), MO(VI), W(VI) AND SN(IV); THE PH OF SAID SOLUTION BEING SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO PERMIT SAID CATION EXHCNAGER TO EXHIBIT SUCH CATION EXCHANGE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID SOLUTION; SAID CATION EXCHANGER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY INSOLUBLE IN SAID SOLUTION; SAID CATION EXCHANGER, PRIOR TO ITS BEING PLACED IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION, BEING DRIED INSUFFICIENTLY TO DESTROY ITS HYDROUS CHARACTER INSUFFICIENTLY TO DESTROY ITS CATION EXCHANGE CHARACTERISTICS; SAID CATION EXCHANGER BEING PLACED IN CONTACT WITH A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF SAID SOLUTION FOR A SUFFICIENT PERIOD OF TIME TO REMOVE THE DESIRED QUANTITY OF SAID INORGANIC CATIONS FROM SAID SOLUTION, WHEREBY SAID CATION EXCHANGER WILL BECOME ENRICHED WITH SAID INORGANIC CATIONS; SEPARATING THE ENRICHED CATION EXCHANGER FROM SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION; CONTACTING SAID ENRICHED CATION EXCHANGER WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING IONS TO DISPLACE SAID INORGANIC CATIONS ON SAID CATION EXCHANGER; AND SEPARATING THE DENUDED CATION EXCHANGER AND SAID LAST MENTIONED AQUEOUS SOLUTION.
 22. A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING INORGANIC CATIONS FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING SUCH CATIONS OTHER THAN THE PROCESSING OF PU(IV)-FISSION PRODUCT SOLUTIONS COMPRISING CONTACTING SAID SOLUTION WITH A NON-SILICEOUIS MIXED HYDROUS OXIDE CATION EXCHANGER CONTAINING AN ACIDIC HYDROUS OXIDE OF P(V) IN COMBINATION WITH A BASIC HYDROUS OXIDE OF ZR(IV); A SUFFICIENT EXCESS OF THE OXIDE OF P(V) BEING PRESENT TO IMPART EFFECTIVE CATION EXCHANGE PROPERTIES TO SAID CATION EXCHANGER IN SAID SOLUTION; SAID CATION EXCHANGER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY INSOLUBLE IN SAID SOLUTION; SAID CATION EXCHANGER, PRIOR TO ITS BEING PLACED IN CONTACT WITH SAID SOLUTION, HAVING BEEN DRIED AT A TEMPERATURE NOT IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 300*C.; SAID CATION EXCHANGER BEING PLACED IN CONTACT WITH A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF SAID SOLUTION FOR A SUFFIICIENT PERIOD OF TIME TO REMOVE THE DESIRED QUANTITY OF SAID INORGANIC CATIONS FROM SAID SOLUTION, WHEREBY SAID CATION EXCHANGER WILL BECOME ENRICHED WITH SAID INORGANIC CATIONS; SEPARATING THE ENRICHED CATION EXCHANGER FROM SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION; CONTACTING SAID ENRICHED CATION EXCHANGER WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING A MATERIAL CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING IONS TO DISPLACE SAID INORGANIC CATIONS ON SAID CATION EXCHANGER; AND SEPARATING THE DENUDED CATION EXCHANGER AND SAID LAST-MENTIONED AQUEOUS SOLUTION. 